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Tony_Chapman

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Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« on: September 02, 2010, 09:06:33 PM »
Here's a video of Awarii Dunes (the Engh redo of a Gene Bates course that went under), looks pretty fun. It sounds like they'll be more video and other news coming soon. http://hubvideo.kearneyhub.com/?p=3788

Jason Hines

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2010, 11:04:20 PM »
Hi Tony,

Have you been by there lately?  I have kind of lost track on when they think the course will be open?  I thought I remember the front 9 this fall...

Adam Clayman

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2010, 11:01:09 AM »
Jason, They will be hitting a few balls this fall on the front nine. Not sure if that qualifies as open. I expect that the entire back nine is finished and seeded. I say expect because when I last spoke with Tim Hartnett, he had 4 holes left to seed, and then last week Heidi Voss told me they were down to two.

Having only toured the ground before all of the back nine was cleared, I can say that there is ample variety in size and shape of the greens, as well as no over working of the land.
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Jason Hines

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2010, 10:15:26 PM »

RJ_Daley

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2010, 11:48:39 PM »
Thanks for the links, Jason.  Wow, the native vegitation looks very lush, from all the rains I suppose.  Does anyone know if they will be able to get permits to do spring-fall burns like they do at WH?  the video indicates a lot more elevaion contrours on the ground than one would imagine from looking at the USGS 10ft ele topos.  The link written article talks about a hole that I suspect is the one seen behind the owner in the video with the ridge and bank of bunkers and apparently the green is blind beyond.  They say they will put up a target to aim at and if you are long or short, it doesn't matter since the green is described as being in a big bowl.  I suppose on a fun factor that might be OK.  I would just say such a Dell blind trough of a hole and greensite with an aimiing rock didn't hold up to the criticism at Erin Hills.  I wonder how it will go over in this setting. 

No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Emil Weber

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2010, 11:23:27 AM »
Is that a Biarritz green at 0:17 in the 2nd vid ;)
« Last Edit: September 10, 2010, 12:54:22 PM by Emil Weber »

Adam Clayman

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2010, 12:40:34 PM »
Emil, I can't say definitively that it is not, but, I don't recall seeing a biarritz green on my tour several months back. I do recall seeing ground movement that could illicit such a question. But, since I saw it when holes were being seeded and prior to seeding, the areas leading up to some of the greens, could easily be confused as a biarritz "look".

These types of ground movements are what cause most of the uniqueness when building golf on sandy dunes like soil. It creates the mental trickery that Jim spoke of in the 2nd video and should create the fun and laughs, he mentioned also.

What I think Awarii Dunes confirms for me, after having seen the PC and the new DR, is how wide the spectrum is, in the look of the golf holes, when building on theses natural sandy sites. Each one has an individuality to it, that can only enhance the golfing landscape. And for us geeks, it provides ample variety for endless discussions.

One other thing it confirms and that has to do with Max Behr. His few writings that I've deciphered, centered on using the almost unlimited variety found in nature as the guide for building great golf courses. This regions offerings is quickly proving that. Of course it's only proving it, if the golfer can distinguish this variety, rather than lump them together, as the same style. Just as one man might over simplify the look of "frilly bunkers".
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

RJ_Daley

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2010, 01:43:57 PM »
The one regrettable aspect that seems to be almost a hostage of the financial demands to invest and build such courses in the general sand hill vicinity, is that once again, Awarii Dunes seems to be on the private club model.  I think that from a State promotional development point of view, this doesn't help the local economy as much as if it were some combination of public-private.  The idea of the Nebraska prairie trail, or 'Golf Nebraska' doesn't necessarily get pushed unless there would be some more public access to these prairie golf style conditions that are so unique.  Yet, I understand that the same basic private model is what seems to be the only perceived viable model that these developers seem to form consensus around.  So as a viable enterprise, which at the end of the day is primary, we have this dichotomy of alot of public forum and golfing world awareness, with little actual public access. 

It seems to me that in the summer, there are one heck of a lot of vehicles, families on vacation and such, that are going by on I-80 all day long.  With a great golf course, and mid state in a decent size town, all those folks that are aware/savvy golfers on vacation, en route to CO or the west, might conveniently stop at Kearney.  And, look at all the folks that come out to WH now, from mid length drives of Lincoln, Omaha, CB, Kansas, and backtracked from CO. 

Alas, Craneview didn't make it.  But, was the model and ony 9 holes enough of a test to lure them in? 

I guess I continue to ponder these matters in futility since what I once contemplated on the land south of North Platte that I looked into, would honestly blow Craneviews, or now Awarii Dunes away.  But, then you are back to that financial model that can't be avoided, obviously. 

I hope for Mr. Freudenberg's situation, that they make this a successful going enterprise. 
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Jason Hines

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2010, 05:08:21 PM »
Hi Dick,

I may be repeating myself and others, but another difference with Awarii is that the size of the closest town is 30k people with 145,000 people within 50 miles.  Having spoken to several local Kearneyites, Awarii is going to take a chunk out of the KCC membership.

I also would not be surprised as more of these courses head down the private path, others will keep building to satisfy the public demand

Adam Clayman

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2010, 10:39:37 AM »
Dick, If you  listen closely to the video, the narrator mentions "stay and play' options. I believe they already have ab affiliation with at least one hotel in Kearney, So, you are right that the traveler need be savvy enough to know where to stay, in order to play.

As an aside; There was an old RV parked at West Wind this weekend that had  some reference to the Pony Express written on it. It also had the names of several golf courses stenciled on it's side. West Wind was one, as was Thanksgiving point. Corey's dad, Don, found out that their mission was to play all the golf courses that are the closest to the old Pony Express trail. It was pretty neat.
"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Jason Hines

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2010, 09:33:26 PM »
A family member sent the print article from the Kearney Daily Hub.  Some quotes of note:

“If it’s not in the top 50 in the country, we screwed up”  Owner Kent Freudenberg.

With regards to the course being seeded from tee to green in bent grass:

“ When you go bent, you put yourself in the top 10 percent of the golf courses in the country”.  “It’s a firm fast surface and it does what it’s supposed to do”  Freudenberg.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2010, 09:59:01 PM by Jason Hines »

Derrick Vest

The choice of bent...
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2010, 07:35:09 PM »
How do you all feel about the choice of bent??  Seems to me there are better options to create fast and firm. In my experiences, bent needs tons of water in the summer months and definitely negates "fast and firm." But I would guess if managed correctly, just don't think I've ever seen fast and firm bent.

Adam Clayman

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2010, 09:28:48 AM »
Derrick,
 It's a good question. I was told that the strain of bent (A-4?) will play better, and does not need the typical inputs, or hand holding, other varieties need. We will just have to wait and see how well it plays and whether this key decision was the right one. I suspect having everything all the same grass, will yield that deception that occurs when there's a lack of definition between fairway and greens. A good thing in my book.



"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Jason Hines

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2010, 05:22:46 PM »
In the clay and silty soils of eastern Nebraska, Bent grass was a soppy mess in the heat and humidity of the summer.  Now sandy, well drained soil in those old river dunes might be different...
« Last Edit: September 25, 2010, 08:02:45 AM by Jason Hines »

RJ_Daley

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2010, 12:29:32 AM »
Quote
“ When you go bent, you put yourself in the top 10 percent of the golf courses in the country”.  “It’s a firm fast surface and it does what it’s supposed to do”  Freudenberg".

Does this sound a bit like a developer/owner's personal opinion based on his own experience, or repeating the assurance of the archie, or a turf expert?  I sense there is an immediate skepticism that bent tee through green is the best possible selection to maintain the bulk of the season in firm and fast in that climate, whatever the cultivar. 

If you asked the supers from 10 of the most notable courses in that region, that value firm and fast conditions as often as can be presented, and balanced against what is practical in that region to maintain, do you think they could reach a consensus on what to seed, tees, approaches, greens, and rough-intermediate roughs? 
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Ron Farris

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2010, 07:43:08 AM »
Bent?  What variety?  Here is a way to gage the health of your bent:  Turn off your air conditioning, open your windows on a summer night.   If you can sleep you have a chance.  Otherwise, close the windows - overwater to keep cool, and enjoy the poa ;D.  Kearney is not quite the same as the Sand Hills GC weather.  Best of luck and I definitely look forward to checking the place out as I go over the hills and through snow to get to mother's house.  It looks like a nice variety and something a little different from the rest.

Jason Hines

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Re: Kearney Hub: Awarii Dunes video
« Reply #16 on: January 15, 2011, 09:23:29 AM »
A friend sent this to me, it’s an audio link interview about Awarii Dunes from June.  Some interesting dialogue.

http://vimeo.com/12952580

And small video:

http://vimeo.com/11691782
« Last Edit: January 15, 2011, 09:28:26 AM by Jason Hines »

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